Enhancing natural enemy mortality of chrysomelids in young eucalypt plantations through habitat manipulation. Eucalyptus plantations are the future of Australian forestry. In eucalypt plantations leaf-feeding beetles reduce tree growth by an average of 53%, substantially reducing profits. Sustainable management of these pests is best done by maximising the impact of native beneficial agents, eg wasps and spiders. This research will quantify the beneficial insects in plantations and increase ....Enhancing natural enemy mortality of chrysomelids in young eucalypt plantations through habitat manipulation. Eucalyptus plantations are the future of Australian forestry. In eucalypt plantations leaf-feeding beetles reduce tree growth by an average of 53%, substantially reducing profits. Sustainable management of these pests is best done by maximising the impact of native beneficial agents, eg wasps and spiders. This research will quantify the beneficial insects in plantations and increase their efficacy by manipulating the plantation environment so it provides more of the resources (food & shelter) these beneficials require. This approach is significant as it has not been previously attempted in forestry. Our management recommendations will make the plantation sector more profitable and sustainable.Read moreRead less
Forestry effects on headwater ecosystem health: a multi-catchment experiment. Most catchments in southern Australia have been logged historically. Increasingly, native forest harvesting occurs in regrowth or drier areas. Although foresters have empirical data on ecological effects of harvesting in pristine or wetter catchments, little exists for drier regrowth areas, hampering effective management to minimize impacts on stream ecosystem health. This project will supply ecological data on stre ....Forestry effects on headwater ecosystem health: a multi-catchment experiment. Most catchments in southern Australia have been logged historically. Increasingly, native forest harvesting occurs in regrowth or drier areas. Although foresters have empirical data on ecological effects of harvesting in pristine or wetter catchments, little exists for drier regrowth areas, hampering effective management to minimize impacts on stream ecosystem health. This project will supply ecological data on stream ecosystems to supplement 4 years of hydrological data collected by Forests NSW from 5 experimental catchments. Results will provide a firmer scientific basis for ecologically sustainable harvesting in this forest type, with flow-on benefits to our national economy, biodiversity, and environment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668477
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Upgrade of existing university low field and high field nuclear magnetic resonance facilities. The ongoing pursuit of new medicines and therapies, the development of sustainable forestry management practices and the assessment of the impact of global climate change on Australian forest soils are some of the research objectives being addressed by researchers at Griffith University. The Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies and the Centre for Forestry and Horticultural Research (CFHR) ....Upgrade of existing university low field and high field nuclear magnetic resonance facilities. The ongoing pursuit of new medicines and therapies, the development of sustainable forestry management practices and the assessment of the impact of global climate change on Australian forest soils are some of the research objectives being addressed by researchers at Griffith University. The Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies and the Centre for Forestry and Horticultural Research (CFHR) bring together researchers from a range of disciplines to further research in these key areas. The instruments funded here will provide researchers with access to spectroscopic facilities with state-of-the-art performance. This will ensure the continued international competitiveness and the sustained productivity of our research programmes.Read moreRead less